Question

A superintendent has appointed a principal to lead a school whose performance is among the lowest in the district. The superintendent informs the principal that the first goal upon taking over leadership of the school must be to improve student achievement as measured by standardized test scores.

In initiating efforts to achieve this goal, the principal can best facilitate a smooth transition by

Choose an answer
A. showing a willingness to defer to the experience and judgment of respected school stakeholders during the first weeks or months of the year.
B. generating a draft improvement plan that is comprehensive and research based for review and comment by interested school stakeholder groups.
C. sharing stories with school stakeholders about prior successes in turning around low-performing schools.
D. meeting with school stakeholder groups to establish a collaborative effort toward school improvement.

Answer 1

To improve student achievement in a low-performing school, the principal should meet with school stakeholders to establish a collaborative effort, aligning with accountability standards and effective management practices that engage all parties for a unified vision of school improvement.

Step-by-step explanation:

The principal tasked with improving student achievement in a low-performing school should best facilitate a smooth transition by meeting with school stakeholder groups to establish a collaborative effort toward school improvement. This approach is in line with the recognition of accountability, parental choice, and retention of effective teachers as key components for educational success, as evidenced by educational reforms such as No Child Left Behind. Establishing a collaborative environment aligns with effective management practices and the importance of engaging stakeholders to ensure commitment to the school's goals. It addresses the necessity of creating a united vision for improvement, something that is not necessarily achieved when deferring solely to respected stakeholders or when sharing past successes without stakeholder engagement.